Sheriff’s Office joins iWatch anti-terror program

Published: Friday, May 17, 2013 at 7:06 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, May 17, 2013 at 7:06 p.m.

The Marion County Sheriff's Office announced Friday that the agency has joined 12 others in implementing an anti-terrorism campaign.

The Sheriff's Office, which belongs to Regional Domestic Security Task Force Region 3, said the initiative is to help people become comfortable with reporting suspicious behavior linked to terrorist activity. Citizens can make reports by calling the MCSO or using the Internet to log onto iwatchmarion.com.

MCSO spokesperson Capt. Jimmy Pogue said the agency joined the program because it has been highly successful in other places, including California.

He said much of the information gathered to fight terrorism comes from the public. Pogue said if anyone sees something suspicious, they can now quickly go online and report what they have seen, or call and report it.

That information will be passed to the appropriate agency for action, he said.

Funding for the program comes from a Homeland Security grant program administered by the state of Florida and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

<p>The Marion County Sheriff's Office announced Friday that the agency has joined 12 others in implementing an anti-terrorism campaign.</p><p>The Sheriff's Office, which belongs to Regional Domestic Security Task Force Region 3, said the initiative is to help people become comfortable with reporting suspicious behavior linked to terrorist activity. Citizens can make reports by calling the MCSO or using the Internet to log onto iwatchmarion.com.</p><p>MCSO spokesperson Capt. Jimmy Pogue said the agency joined the program because it has been highly successful in other places, including California.</p><p>He said much of the information gathered to fight terrorism comes from the public. Pogue said if anyone sees something suspicious, they can now quickly go online and report what they have seen, or call and report it.</p><p>That information will be passed to the appropriate agency for action, he said.</p><p>Funding for the program comes from a Homeland Security grant program administered by the state of Florida and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.</p><p><i>Contact Austin L. Miller at 867-4118 or austin.miller@starbanner.com.</i></p>